Closure



Nov. 16, 1948. S 2,454,214

CLOSURE Filed June 21, 1945 1 'hvgawgrih 7 1 15 2s 6 39 33 34 z z L/EHZZZFL John 1 -551 Patented Nov. 16, 1948 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v CLOSURE John P. Sapp, Kent, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. .600,677

The invention relates to closures and especially to slide fastener closures for sealing adjacent margins of the wall-of an article to be joined.

Objects of theinvention are to provide for closing effectively'adjacent margins in a manner to resist especially leakage of air; water or gases therethroug'h; to provide for resisting leakage by lip-action between interlocking sealing means; to provide for one-or more sealing zones at the interlocking sealing means; to provide for holding and supporting such sealing means in the engaged condition; to provide for sealing action while permitting flexure of the closure and relative movement of parts of the interlocking sealing means to provide simplicity of construction and convenience of manufacture; and to provide for ease and effectiveness of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Fig. l is a plan view from above of a slide fastener closure in assembled relation with adjacent margins of the wall of an article, and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, parts being broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 22 of'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 4- of Fig. l, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a runner for the slide fastener closure.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the construction of a closure Ill includes sealing elements ll, ('2 of resilient rubber or other rubber-like material extending along adjacent margins l3, l4 oi the wall of an article to be joined, which article or arti cles may be, for example, life saving suits, aviators garments; gas bags for balloons, tents, wading boots, footwear, and other similar containers and receptacles. The sealing elements ll, [2 are desirably secured to the margins I 3, I4 at a position adjacent the edges lea, Me of such margins and extend laterallyfrom suchedges toward one another.

Each sealing element includes an'at'tachingportiorn i5, 113, whichmaylie-relatively thin and substantially'fiat, and" abracing portion IT, is extending laterally irom: theattaching portion and 11 "Claims. (01. 24-45051) having desirably diverging side walls with respect to the relatively thin flat attaching portion [5, l6. Each sealing element also terminates at its free end in an interlocking portion I9, 20 adapted to cooperate with the other interlocking portion of the other element for sealing and closing the margins l3 and M.

For this purpose, the sealing element I l is provided along its extent with a recess 2| in the face at the free end I la of the interlocking portion l9, as shown especially in Fig. 3, which re cess is desirably elongated-in-crosssection and may be defined by inwardly converging walls 22, 23. The recess 2| is of dimensions in cross-section adapted to receive therein at least a part of the otherint'e-rlocking portion 2!) of the sealing element [2 and desirably to receive such interl'ocki'ng portion 26' in its entirety for facilitating the desired interlocking and overlapping relation of the respective interlocking portions l9 and 2!]. The bracing portion ll of the element II being of greater mass of material than the interlocking portion l9 having the recess 2| facilitates positioning and holding the interlocking portion I9 in the desired manner for cooperating with the other interlocking portion 20 during the engaging operation of the closure and for maintaining the sealed condition of the sealing elemerits II and [2 during engagement of the la ter elements.

To the end of fitting within the recess 2| of the interlocking portion IS in a floating manner, the interlocking portion 20 of the other element l2 has opposed side faces 2'4, 25 converging in 1 the direction toward the free end I20, of the sealwardly from an opposed face 24, 25 is desirably ing element I2 and is desirably of cross-sectional dimensions less than the corresponding dimensions of the recess 2 I. Such interlocking portion 20 is provided with a plurality of integral spacedapart ribs 26', 26 of suitable resilient rubber material projecting outwardly from each of the op= posed converging faces 24, 25 and terminating inclined in the direction away from the free end l2a of the sealing element [2, as shown especially in Fig. 2. Alsorthe ribs 25 at each such face are desirably of progressively decreasing extent or graduated in the direction toward the free or tapered end l'2a; whereby each rib of relatively smallest dimensions in cross-section is nearest such free end I2a of the tapered interlocking portion 20. Such ribs may be inclined with respect to the opposite converging faces 24, 25 in the direction away from the free end I2a of the sealing element I2 for further assuring sealing of the closure despite pressures existing at either or both sides of the closure I5 since the effect of such pressures acting on the ribs 28 is to tend to press the latter more tightly into contact with the walls 22, 23 of the recess 2| and thereby supplement the pressing action of such ribs against such walls 22, 23 by virtue of their flexed condition and the resilience of the rubber material thereof.

For such arrangement of graduated ribs 26, the included angle between the converging faces 24, 25 is desirably less than the included angle between the inwardly converging side walls 22, 23 of the interlocking portion I9 of the other sealing element II. While the end I20: of the sealing element may, if desired, contact the inner end wall of the recess 2I at the junction of the converging walls 22, 23; in the preferred construction, the free end I 2a of the sealing element I2 is desirably in separated condition with respect to such inner end wall of the recess 2|, as shown especially in Fig. 4. Thus, the inter locking portion 20 is held in a suspended and separated condition with respect to the walls of the recess 2| by the arrangement and support afforded thereto by the ribs 26, thereby promoting effective lip-sealing action despite flexure and/or twisting of the closure I0.

This construction and arrangement accommodates the free positioning of the respective interlocking portions I9 and 20 of the sealing elements II and I2 in a floating manner in overlapping relation for facilitating flexure of the closure and facilitating the desired flexure and lip-sealing action of the ribs 26 with the walls 22, 23 of the recess 2|. This construction also makes possible the provision of a plurality of laterally spaced-apart sealing zones extending along and between each of the opposing faces 24, 25 and converging walls 22, '23 for the engaged condition of the sealing elements. Additionally, by virtue of such construction and arrangement, relative flexing movement of the sealing elements is accommodated with respect to one another at the interlocking portions I9, 20 while maintaining effectively lip-sealing action.

The closure I0 further includes a pair of margins or stringers 21, 28 and 29, 3!] of flexible material such, for example, as woven fabric of cotton, linen, nylon, rayon, glass fibers, and other suitable fibrous or plastic material positioned at opposite sides of each sealing element II, I2. The pairs of stringers are secured to the opposite sides of the attaching portions I5, I6, preferably by a suitable adhesive such, for example, as rubber cement 3B or by sewing 39 or by both, the attachment being relatively remote from the adjacent edges of the margins or stringers and the remainder of the stringers being free and unattached to the sealing element at the region of the respective bracing and interlocking por tions for facilitating ease of operation of the closure. If desired, for protective and/or appearance purposes together with convenience of manufacture and assembly of the closure, the fabric stringers may be coated or impregnated with a treating material such, for example, as suitable rubber-like material.

Cooperating fastener elements 3|, 32, 33, 34 of a known type slide fastener construction are attached at the free edges of the respective stringers 21, 28, 2'9 and 30 and extend in series along the stringers, as shown especially in Fig. I. A suitable runner 35 including twin operating structures 36, 31 of known construction is in guided engagement with the sealing elements I! and I2 and engage the respective fastener elements on each of the stringers by movement along the closure II] for engaging and disengaging such sealing elements and fastener elements to place the closure I!) in the open or the closed condition.

The unattached condition of the stringers 21, 28, 29, 3E] relative to the sealing elements II and 52 except at the attaching portions I5, it thereof facilitates ease of engaging and disengaging the sealing elements II, 12 while providing support of the latter for the engaged condition of the closure. Also, the construction is such that the fastener elements 3|, 32, 33, 34, for the closed condition, are positioned along the longitudinal center line of the closure substantially in contact with the sides of the sealing elements, especially at the region" of the interlocking portions I9, 20 for baking such portions, thereby cooperating with the stringers for holding and supporting the sealing elements in the desired engaged relation to one another and for assuring effective sealing action despite flexure of the closure.

The assembled closure Ill comprising the several component elements given hereinabove may be attached to the adjacent marigns I3, I4 of the article, which may be of fabric construction, as by suitable adhesive, or sewing, or both at the attaching portions l5, E6 of the sealing elements II, I2 and desirably at a region relatively remote from the adjacent edges of the stringers 28 to 35. The assembled closure I0 may be positioned at either side of the wall of the article, if desired.

In the operation of the closure I0 assembled to the wall of the article and in the open condition, the runner 35 is moved in the direction indicated by an arrow 40 for placing the closure ID in the closed condition. Manipulating the runner in such direction engages the respective fastener elements 3|, 32 and 33, 34 attached to the respective pairs of stringers 21, 28 and 29, 30; and during such engaging action, the stringers and the sealing elements II, I2 are drawn together and positioned in the manner shown especially in Fig. 4, the runner 35 engagingly guiding the sealing elements so that the interlocking portions I9, 20 are disposed in the desired overlapping and sealing relation. The interlocking portion 20 freely enters the recess 2I of the interlocking portion I9 by lateral movement toward the sealing element II, during which movement the respective ribs 26, 26 are resiliently flexed about their bases at the side faces 24, 25 and resiliently press at their edges against the converging walls 22, '23 of the recess 2| thereby effecting lip-sealing action and providing a plurality of laterally spaced-apart sealing zones at such interlocking portions for assuring effective sealing and closing of the closure I0. Also, during such engaging action of the runner, the stringers 21, 28, 29 and 30 are drawn substantially into contact along the diverging walls of the bracing portions I'I, I8 of the sealing elements II, I2 for supporting the sealing elements during such engagement. The engaged fastener elements extend along the sealing elements in backassists desir mass s, t. ing-mainterianceof I nthough the s l 2 b fi fl e e iw i d a llb em al extent along the length'thereof." 4

For opening the closure, the runner 35 is manipulated in the opposite direction which disena and se r te a te erel aeat f l i them apart and freeingithe stringers from their substantially contiguous conditionwith the bracrag portions of th'e 'sealing" elements? Alisa, the sealingelements are forc 'e'd part, gar-nag the interlocking portions and breaking the seal at such regions of separation. During the' spread-j ing apart action of the sealing elements, the ribs 26.125, quickly resume their original inclined position with respect to .the'side faces 24,255, of the interlocking portion 20', as shown especiallyin Fig. 2, by virtue of the resiliency of the rubber material thereof. This facilitates the resumption of the. sealed condition of theclosure, uickly and conveniently, even though the runner be manipulated relatively rapidly along the closure for reengaging the. fastener elements and repositioning the stringers, asshown especi-allyin Rigs.

Where themargins l3 and M of the wall of the articles define an opening which is closed at one or both ends, knownsealing constructions may be 29193769 ef ectin Sea n of the closure. U.) at such end or ends. It is tobe understood, also, that the invention is applicable to articles having double wall fabric constructions in which eyent the adjacent margins ofsuch double Walls may serve as and perform the functions of the respective stringers 21,28, 25 and 311/ The fastener elements may be secured at the adjacent edges of suchdouble wall margins and the sealing elements are suitably secured at their attaching pertions l5, it in the manner deseri bed herein above and at regions relatively remote from such edges of the double wall margins.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined inthe following claims. l

l. A closure for adiai fint margins, said closure p e' as r means r eta h bl i i r ing said margins, sealing elements including ter tk e a in 1 for i h f at o l j bf id per ie sai a face thereof having a recess therein'for receiving at least part of the other portion in sealing" rela tion therewith, and one of said portionsat the part thereof receivable in said recess having a sealing rib of elastic material terminating in a sharp edge for contacting a Wall of said recess, said rib in the closed condition of the closure being positioned in said recess in angular flexed relation to said wall of said recess with said edge contactingsaid wall-and with, orient-the side faces of said rib rearwardly of said edge inclined relative toisaid wall and with the otherside face rearwardly of said edge spacedk apart relative'to the adjacent wall portion of said recess so thatsealing of the flexed rib against said wall of the recess is effected by lip-action flexure of said edge, and

said portions being backed by said fastener means,

for holding and supporting said sealing, elements in engaged relation to one another;

2. A closure for adjacent margins, said closure comprising fastener means for detachably joining said margins, and sealing elements including interlocking overlapping portions at said margins for closing the latter, one of said portions at a lives a id-ma ns fa e ther eev as areecssth rein e ce v s QF'L'JQQ FP :9? 13 3 1 PQIti i Sealing ties ihere iieaed. ens Qis id Po t s having a plurality of spaeedapart ribs of elastic material ere ei nairem l tl ii? llilT f a d erm n edges forcontact with the other portion and seal- 1 g aga nst the latter said other portion by lipof Said-edges providing a plurality of sealsones, and said portions beingbacked by said listener means forholding and supporting said sealing elements in engaged relation to one an- Old Avclosure for adjacent margins, said closure comprising fastener means for detachably joining said and sealing elements of elastic material including interlocking overlapping portions at said margins for closing the latter, one of portions at a face thereof having a recess thereindefined by inwardly converging opposite for receiving the other portion in sealing relation therewith, said other portion having opposedconverging faces being adapted to fit in said recess and said other portion having a plurality spaced-apart ribs of said material projecting from each of said opposed faces and terminating in edges for contact with said walls and sealing a ainst said Walls by lip-action of said edges providing a-plurality of sealing zones, and said portionsibeing backed by said fastener means for holding and supporting said sealing elements in engaged relation to one another.

' .4. A closure for adjacent margins, said closure comprising sealing elements of elastic material for said margins to close the same, said elements including bracing portions projecting laterally from adjacent edges of said margins toward one another and terminating in interlocking portions positionable in overlapping and contacting relation to one another, one of said interlocking portions at the freeend face thereof having a recess therein for receiving the other interlocking portion in sealing relation therewith, said other interlocking portion comprising sealing means including, a rib of said material projecting from a face thereof adjacent the free end of said other interlocking portion and terminating in an edge for contact with the inner wall of said recess by flex le of said rib and sealing against said wall by lip-action of said edge, and means for so positioningand holding said sealing elements in said overlapping and contacting relation.

5. A closure for adjacent margins as defined in claim 4 in which said recess is defined by inwardly converging side walls, said other interlocking portion is tapered-in-crossasection to fit in said recess, and said sealing means includes a plurality of spaced-apart ribs of said elastic material projecting from the side faces of said other intero'e s i e. e r ien endiermi atins in edges o tact with said converging side walls by flexure of said ribs and sealing. against said side Walls by lipaction of said edges providing a plurality of sealing zones, said ribs extending outwardly from said sidefaces a progressively decreasing extent in direction towardthe tapered end of said other ie ee s ns rt on,-

6. a closure for adjacent margins, said closure comprising slide fastener means for detachably min n Sai mar i d ea n l men s n,- cluding interlocking overlapping portions of elastic material attachable to said margins for closing the same, one of said portions at a face thereof having a, recess therein for receiving at least a part of the other portion in sealing relation therewith, and one of said portions at the part thereof receivable in said recess having a sealing rib of elastic material terminating in a sharp edge for contacting a wall of said recess, said rib in the closed condition of the closure being positioned in said recess in angular flexed relation to said wall of said recess with said edge contacting said wall and with one of the side faces of said rib rearwardly of said edge inclined relative to said wall and with the other side face rearwardly of said edge spaced-apart relative to the adjacent wall portion of said recess so that sealing of the flexed rib against said wall of the recess is effected by lip-action fiexure of said edge, said slide fastener means being in overlying and backing relation to said sealing elements for holding and supporting said sealing elements in engaged relation to one another.

'7. A closure for adjacent pairs of margins, said closure comprising slide fastener means for joining said margins including cooperating fastener elements for each pair of margins and a runner for engaging and disengaging said fastener elements, and sealing elements of elastic material for closing the margins and being attachable t and between said pairs of margins, said sealing elements extending laterally toward one another from their attachment to each pair of margins, said attachment being relatively remote from the adjacent edges of the margins providing free portions of each said pair of margins overlying each side of said sealing elements, and said sealing elements having interlocking overlapping portions at their free ends for contacting and sealing relation one to another, one of said interlocking portions having at its end face an elongated-incross-section recess therein for receiving the other interlocking portion and said other interlocking portion comprising sealing means including a rib of said material projecting outwardly at each side face thereof and terminating in an edge for contacting an adjacent inner side wall of said recess by flexure of said rib and sealing against said side wall by lip-action of said edge, said other interlocking portion being maintained in spaced relation to the first said interlocking portion by said ribs, and said runner being in guided engagement with said sealing elements and operative engagement with said fastener elements to draw said free portions of said pairs of margins and said sealing elements together whereby said margins are in backing relation at each side of the sealing elements for holding and supporting the latter in engaged relation to one another.

8. A closure as defined in claim '7 in which said sealing means of said other interlocking portion includes a plurality of spaced-apart ribs of said material projecting outwardly at each side face thereof and terminating in edges for contacting adjacent inner side walls of said elongated recess by flexure of said ribs and sealing against said side walls by lip-action of said edges.

9. A closure as defined in claim 7 in which said elongated-in-section recess of the first said interlocking portion is defined by inwardly converging walls, said other interlocking portion being tapered-in-cross-section to fit in said recess, and said sealing means includes a, plurality of laterally spaced apart ribs of said elastic material projecting outwardly at each side face of the tapered portion and terminating in edges for contacting said converging walls of said recess by flexure of said ribs and sealing against said converging walls by lip-action of said edges providing a plurality of laterally spaced-apart sealing zones.

10. A slide fastener closure for adjacent margins of the wall of an article to be closed, said closure comprising a pair of sealing elements of resilient rubber-like material extending along said margins and extending laterally toward each other from the adjacent edges of said margins, said sealing elements includingv interlocking portions at the free ends thereof constructed and arranged for contacting and telescopic engagement one to another to close said margins, one of said interlocking portions including lip-sealing means of said material integral therewith for contacting the other interlocking portion, a pair of stringers at each margin and uponopposite sides of each sealing element, said sealing elements and said pairs of stringers being secured to one another and to said margins adjacent said edges of the latter, cooperating fastener elements in series on each pair of stringers at the free edges thereof, and a runner including twin operating structures in guided engagement with said sealing elements and engageable with said fastener elements on each said stringers for engaging and disengaging said sealing elements and said fastener elements.

11. A closure for adjacent margins, said closure comprising fastener means for detachably joining said margins, and sealing elements including interlocking overlapping portions at said margins for closing the latter, one of said portions at a face thereof having a recess therein for receiving at least a part of the other portion in sealing relation therewith, and one of said portions at the part thereof receivable in said recess having a surface for disposition in adjacent spaced-apart relation to an inner wall of said recess in the closed condition of the closure and having a rib of elastic material projecting from said surface in position to enter said recess and projecting to an extent greater than that between said surface and said wall in said condition so as to be flexed in angular relation to said wall in said closed condition of the closure, said rib terminating in a sharp edge for contacting said wall and sealing against the same by lip-action of said edge under flexure of said rib, and said portions being backed by said fastener means for holding and supporting said sealing elements in engaged relation to one another.

JOHN P. SAPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 12, 1936 Nu ber Number Patent No. 2,454,214.

Certificate of Correction November 16, 1948. JOHN P. SAPP It is herebfy certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 1, line 15, after the word means insert a semi-colon;column 3, line 8, after closure 10 insert a semi-colon; line 67, for e1ement" read elements; column 4,

line 27, for baking read backing; column 5, line 5, before be strike out to; line 28, for articles read artiste and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Oommim'oner of Patents. 

